Six Mob Lynched In Jharkhand Allegedly For Being Child-Lifters

Ranchi: In yet another mob lynching case in Jharkhand, six people (three from Jharkhand and three from Uttar Pradesh) have been mercilessly beaten on suspicion of being child-lifters in Koderma district, on Tuesday.

Three tribal youth—Naresh Soren, Anil Soren and Mahadev Soren were riding a bike, to reach their sister’s house. However, when they stopped at Pratappur to ask about the correct route to Ghodthambha, the trio was attacked on suspicion of being child lifters. And when these three youths were being assaulted, three other small traders from Uttar Pradesh travelling through the area came to their rescue; they were also beaten mercilessly for allegedly being the partners of the tribals.

“We were crossing by, when we saw, a mob beating some men. We get down from our car and just asked – ‘What happened bhai? Why are you all beating them?’ On hearing us, they turned towards us saying, that we are also child-lifters and partners,” narrated Mohammad Aslam, one of the three small traders to eNewsroom.

When police reached the incident site and were taking the youth from the ambulance, the mob pulled down the tribals and beat them in the presence of two policemen. Later, when more police came, they lathicharged on the mob and disbursed them

Thirty six-year-old Aslam is married and has four children, while his two partners—Mohammed Bilal and Karamat Ali both are of same age group, 22-years of age and are married. Aslam and others used to do the same work in Bihar too and recently started it in Jharkhand.

Aslam was hit on eyes and body, while others were hit on their body parts.

“They broke our car, took away all the items from it. We had around Rs 12000 in a bag and 2000 in my wallet, they took it all,” he said.

A horrified Aslam, who, along with five other victims are in Jai Nagar police station added, “We come here as we can sell our items with the sole intention of making slightly better profit and nothing else. Now, I do not want to lodge any case, I just want to go from here.”

Meanwhile, the witnesses on the spot said that when police reached the incident site and were taking the youth from the ambulance, the mob pulled down the tribals and beat them in the presence of two policemen. Later, when more police came, they lathicharged on the mob and disbursed them.

However, even after 24 hours of the incident, there has been no arresting so far in the case. In fact, police has yet to register an FIR in the incident.

Koderma Superintendent of Police Dr M Tamil Banan did not respond to repeated calls made by eNewsroom. But Jai Nagar Officer-in-charge Ravi Kishore Prasad told eNewsroom. “We were first providing treatment to the victims. Now all are doing well. We have informed their parents and waiting for them to come and pick them.”

“Today, we will register FIR and then act on it, added Prashad.

Jharkhand is infamous for having highest number of mob lynching cases in India. According to data available the lynching cases take place, sometimes for cattle transportation, sometimes for alleged beef eating, in the name of witch-craft practice, besides child-lifting allegations. More than 20 cases have been reported in last three years.